Our vision is to provide individuals of all ages, families and community groups a place where they can become empowered by experiencing their own capacity to heal themselves.

ABOUT

SERVICES

TEAM

WHO WE ARE

We are a vibrant team of competent, compassionate psychologists and therapists. We have unique and diverse skill sets, extensive training and are passionate about our work. We believe in the power of the human spirit to rise above.

The vision of the psychologists and therapists at Lesley Hartman & Associates Inc. is to provide individuals of all ages, families and community groups a place where they can become empowered by experiencing their own capacity to heal themselves. Through these experiences our psychologists and therapists hope to assist people to be contributors to the wellness and healing of their families, community and world.

We know about this power through our successful work with those who have been burdened by great pain and who have rebuilt their lives. We are committed to assisting people to reach the joy and wholeness they yearn for but may feel far away from. There are many paths to wholeness on this precious journey through life. We invite our clients to explore new paths and to follow their soul’s yearning. We invite them to see that a new day is dawning.

Our space is private, with a quiet waiting area. Our psychological services are confidential. We are all licensed within self-regulating professional bodies. This provides the public with protection and assurances of our training and competence. We abide by the ethical codes and standards of our licensing bodies.

Our offices are in a quiet, private space on Joseph Howe Drive in Halifax, N.S., which is centrally located close to the bridges, highways, Halifax Shopping Centre and Bayers Lake Industrial Park.

Lesley Hartman, the practice leader, has been a practicing Community/Clinical Psychologist since 1995 and is a registered psychologist with the Nova Scotia Board of Examiners in Psychology. As a dynamic and diverse team of psychologists and therapists, we provide comprehensive care to assist people to rise above a wide variety of psychological concerns, life problems and challenges.

We have Kay & Tamara, our intake workers, to take your referral and assist you with finding the psychologist/therapist who will be the best fit for you. She is a skilled professional who will discuss what you are seeking over the phone. As with the psychologists/therapists, she will treat your information with the highest level of confidentiality. This process can help save you time in your first session so that you and your psychologist can quickly start to work together to address your concerns.

Private psychological and counselling services are not covered by M.S.I. If you have private health benefits, you may have coverage for psychological services, psychotherapy or counselling. You can check with your provider to determine whether you have coverage. We do provide some sliding scale services, based on client need and our ability at any given time.

Psychologist’s fees:

Our psychologists are all registered with the Nova Scotia Board of Examiners in Psychology and are either Masters or Ph.D. trained.

We are increasing our rate to $180 per 50-minute session for individual, couple or family therapy as of February 1, 2018 to be more closely aligned with the Association of Psychologists of Nova Scotia’s recommended rate of $190, and with other members of our professional group.

Registered Counselling Therapist’s fees:

$100 plus HST per 50 minute session.

Occupational Therapist’s fees:

$105 per 50-minute session for occupational therapy.

$130 per 50-minute session for DBT counselling.

Group fees:

Determined according to individual group.

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MEET OUR TEAM

Lesley Hartman

M.A., PSYCHOLOGIST

I am a trauma-informed psychologist who works with adults, adolescents and couples. I help people with a variety of concerns, from PTSD, anxiety, depression, and traumatic brain injury to problems in living, including: work, school, recovery from illness or injury, grief, career choices or relationship concerns. Whether you want practical solutions to current problems, or prefer to address the source of current problems by healing your past, I can help. I love what I do, and enjoy working with diverse groups of people—of different ages, genders, sexual orientations or identities and cultural backgrounds or experiences. I can provide therapy in Spanish or English. I am continually inspired and awed by my clients. They have been my greatest teachers, and have taught me to believe in the resilience of the human spirit.

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My orientation to clinical practice has as its foundation a solid training in both Cognitive-Behavioural (CBT) and Feminist therapies. I have also trained in Narrative Therapy, an approach whose philosophy of privileging client knowledge about their own lives, and acknowledging the importance of others—family, friends, teachers, the wider culture, past and present– in supporting a client’s changed views of self and preferred identities—assists me in more deeply integrating my core values with my clinical work. I continue to draw on these approaches; also integrate more recent training in Mindfulness approaches such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy, and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT). I am a certified EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) practitioner. EMDR is an evidence based therapy that effectively treats Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). I also have training in Emotional Focused Therapy (EFT) which I use as a foundation in my work with couples. EFT is an evidence based approach for helping couples develop a more satisfying and stronger relationship. Above all, I believe that the relationship between the client and therapist is the most important agent of change, and I bring a big heart to my work. I am authentic and use humour, stories, and metaphors to help illuminate experiences.

I have been a practicing Community/Clinical Psychologist since 1995, registered with the Nova Scotia Board of Examiners in Psychology. In 1995, I obtained a Master’s degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in Community and Clinical Psychology. This training has given me a foundation for clinical skills ranging from psychotherapy with individuals, couples, families and groups to community skills such as developing, implementing and evaluating prevention and training programs.

Among my clinical experiences, I have had the opportunity to work in such varied settings as: community-based agencies, university counselling centres, hospital crisis services and outpatient clinics as well as various private practice settings. In 2006, I opened my own private practice, Lesley Hartman and Associates.

I seek to continually update my skills. In my ongoing professional development, I have received specialized training in a number of areas. Brain Injury Intervention, advanced training in Trauma work, updated approaches to helping people deal with various anxiety disorders (panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, generalized anxiety; phobias), and career counselling are among some of the areas.

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Alexandra Anderson

M.Sc., Psychologist (Candidate Register)

I work with adults and older adolescents who experience a variety of difficulties and concerns. I have experience working in hospital, university, and private practice mental health care settings assisting individuals with anxiety disorders, depression, trauma, and grief. I also help individuals struggling with lifestyle changes and transitions, anger, assertiveness, and relationship concerns.

I adopt a compassionate, open-minded approach and provide supportive guidance to help clients identify their strengths and resources. Above all, my practice is client-focused and collaborative. I strongly believe in the therapeutic relationship, and meeting my clients where they are in the change process to help them define and achieve their goals. I believe that empathic understanding, patience, and an accepting environment are key elements in supporting positive change. I assist clients in identifying and coping with difficult thoughts and feelings, and offer evidence-based strategies and recommendations to facilitate this process. As a therapist, helping people reach their goals and recognize their potential for greatness is the most rewarding part of our work together.

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I have completed an honours (BSc) degree in Psychology from Mount Allison University and received a Master of Science (MSc) degree in Clinical Psychology from Acadia University. My clinical training is primarily based in Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT); however, I also integrate multiple therapeutic models including mindfulness-based theory, attachment theory, and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) to suit the specific needs of each client. I have participated in additional training in suicide risk assessment, Emotion-Focused Therapy for caregivers, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and EMDR training, qualifying me to work with cases of PTSD and trauma. I am committed to a therapeutic approach that is current and evidence-based, and I continually seek to update my skills.

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Marie Josette Durup

Ph.D., Psychologist

I work with all age groups of clients as well as families and couples, to assist with a variety of problems and concerns. In addition to bringing a perspective of diversity, I maintain a full tool-box of therapeutic approaches, strategies, and techniques on which I draw to address the problems my clients face. The choice of tool I use is arrived at through a collaborative process with the client, taking into consideration the nature of the problem, the characteristics of the client, and the stage of change where the client finds himself or herself. I aim to improve the quality of my clients lives by helping them overcome the stresses they face, learn to cope with personal difficulties and find a sense of calm and joy.

I was trained in Nova Scotia (M.Sc. in Clinical/Community Psychology from Acadia, and a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Dalhousie). My work has taken me across Canada and to the USA. Over the past 20 years, I have served clients of varying ages, and coping with a broad range of problems. My clinical experience is broad; I have served work-based, hospital-based, court-based, prison-based, military-based, and general populations. My clinical work is very much informed by the literature, and I have an extensive background in teaching and research. My research has been in the area of Work and Family Stress, and I have specialized in these areas in my clinical work. I work with children, teens, adults, couples and families.

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In addition to my clinical work and research, I have taught and trained Clinical Psychology students at the University of Manitoba, the University of Colorado and Dalhousie University. I have also been very active in my community with volunteer work, serving on several boards/committees, promoting psychology to the public, organizing continuing education activities for my colleagues, working with a community action group to establish a battered women’s home, policy advising and activities to improve and create a better community for military families and carrying out public education initiatives for adults and youth in the community.

Be inspired and inspire others.

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Amber Fougère

D.Clin.Psy., Psychologist

I am a clinical and forensic psychologist who works with adults and older adolescents. I specialize in helping people who struggle in two broad areas. First, I have advanced training and experience working with individuals who struggle with Borderline Personality Disorder and trauma. Second, I specialize in providing assessment and treatment for violence, stalking, arson, and inappropriate sexual behaviour, either prior to or following involvement with the justice system. In addition to these areas, I have worked with individuals struggling with depression, self-injury/harm, eating disorders and social skills deficits.

I have a background in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, and have also been trained and am experienced in the practice of Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), and other therapies. I tailor the approach I use to the unique needs of each of my clients with the goal of achieving the best possible outcomes. I spend a significant time building a strong therapeutic relationship with my clients, as I believe this is often the most important component of therapy.

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I began my psychology training at Acadia University, and completed my doctorate at Monash University in Melbourne, Australia. I have worked across a range of settings, including community mental health centres, public and private hospitals and prisons.

I am passionate about the work I do, and I maintain and update my skills through regular professional development. I am a strong advocate for my clients and for the field of mental health more broadly, and I am active in professional organizations for this purpose. I’m excited to be back home in Nova Scotia after some time in Australia. If you are thinking of making an appointment with me, I look forward to our work together.

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Miranda Fudge

Ph.D., Psychologist (Candidate Register)

I am a clinical psychologist who works with adults and couples of all ages, genders, sexual identities, and backgrounds. I am passionate about helping people through many types of difficult experiences including struggles with anxiety, sadness and depression, stressful life events or transitions, interpersonal relationships, self-esteem, and identity development. I also have a special interest in working with individuals and couples who are experiencing difficulties related to their sex lives (e.g., problems with arousal, orgasm, erection, or pain) and their romantic relationships (e.g., problems with communication, affection, or problems involving the larger family unit).

My approach to clinical practice involves integrating the best available scientific evidence with my own clinical expertise and each client’s values and preferences. I believe that a strong relationship between therapist and client is the foundation of meaningful change. As such, I take a genuine, warm, empathic, and open approach to understanding my clients. I view each client as the expert on their own life and each initial session as an opportunity to understand the client’s perspective.

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Overall, I aim to provide the best possible client care. In an effort to do so, I select evidence-based interventions that fit with the client’s worldview and that I am trained to deliver. The cognitive behavioural framework heavily influences my clinical practice, but where appropriate, I also work within dialectical behaviour, acceptance-based, mindfulness-based, motivational, solutions-focused, and interpersonal frameworks. I view treatment as a collaborative process and strongly believe in fostering open communication with my clients about their progress.

I am originally from Newfoundland and trained mainly in Atlantic Canada. I completed my B.A. (Honours) in psychology at Memorial University’s Grenfell Campus and my Ph.D. in clinical psychology at the University of New Brunswick. I have experience working in a range of mental health settings including community-based centres, hospitals, university campuses, and private practices. Most importantly though, I am firmly dedicated to continued growth and education – I believe in growing along with (and often because of) my clients.

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Susan Gamberg

Ph.D., Psychologist

I am a warm and engaging clinical psychologist with more than 10 years of experience working in hospital, university and community settings. I work with adults, older adolescents and couples, and I have an integrative and flexible approach to psychotherapy. While I have been trained in Cognitive Behavioral therapy, Dialectical Behavior therapy and Interpersonal therapy, I also draw upon Compassion-focused and Emotion-focused methods, as well as Mindfulness and Motivational approaches. My specialties are in the treatment of eating disorders, borderline personality disorder and trauma, and I have extensive experience working with anxiety and mood disorders, self-injury, identity development and relationship concerns. I value diversity and I have broad training and proficiency in multicultural competencies. I am creative and respectful, and my approach is specifically adapted to the person and the presenting issue at hand. I believe in a genuine acceptance of you as a whole person while providing you with the support and safety to make the changes you desire. My goal is to collaborate with you to build practical and effective solutions that empower you to live a happier, healthier and more fulfilling life.

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Trained at McGill University in Montreal, I am licensed and registered in both Quebec and Nova Scotia. Aside from my clinical work, I also enjoy teaching and was a faculty lecturer at McGill University where I taught courses at the graduate and undergraduate level. I have a special interest in supervision and training, and I value education and learning for myself, as well as for others. As such, I continually seek out opportunities to update my skill set and be active in research.

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Brad Holley

B.Sc., M.O.T.

I am an occupational therapist (O.T.) with 12 years of experience. I work with adults of all ages, including seniors. I have worked in the mental health field for seven years, assisting people with eating disorders. Prior to that, I worked in a variety of areas assisting people with concerns such as: returning to the community after a psychiatric hospitalization, recovery from stroke, post-operative recovery from knee, hip, and back surgery, and assisting children with fine motor delay. I recently began intensive DBT training and along with other LHA team members, provide individual DBT therapy for those with a diagnosis of BPD or others who are experiencing problems regulating their emotions. I also assist people with career transitions and overcoming career hurdles. As an O.T., I am skilled at maximizing a person’s independence and happiness by assisting them to find and participate in purposeful and meaningful activity. I am particularly passionate about helping people who are preparing to retire by offering Retirement Lifestyle Planning. Retirement Lifestyle Planning helps you to find the retirement that will give you joy by answering the question “what will I do when I retire?” My approach to therapy is client-centred and respectful. I have a dry sense of humour, and enjoy making people smile. In my free time, I do woodworking, which is another passion of mine.

Sheila MacNeil

Ph.D., Psychologist

I am a clinical psychologist, and provide sex therapy to individuals and couples. Sex therapy can help you with problems you may experience while having sex (like lack of arousal, orgasm, erection or pain during intercourse), a lack of desire for sexual activity that is interfering in your relationships, or distressing or interfering thoughts and feelings about your sexuality or sexual problems.

In sex therapy, clients discuss their sexual concerns, expectations, and ideals in therapy sessions and complete homework exercises either alone or with their sexual partner(s) to help resolve problems and/or enhance their sexual lives. In my experience, it is helpful for both members of a couple to attend therapy sessions together because a sexual problem often affects the sexual relationship as a whole. However, individuals experiencing sexual dysfunction can benefit from sex therapy even when their intimate partner is unavailable or unwilling to attend sessions. Clients inform me that I provide a supportive and professional environment in which to challenge preconceived notions about sex, address factors that interfere with their sexual lives, and identify factors that enhance their sexual satisfaction.

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I have specialized training in evidence-based therapy for sexual concerns and dysfunction (sex therapy), and earned a Ph.D. in 2003 from the University of New Brunswick where I received supervised training in sex therapy and research from Dr. Sandra Byers, an internationally renowned sex therapist and researcher. I have ten years experience providing sex therapy to individuals and couples and have conducted and collaborated on research in the areas of sexual communication, sexual dysfunction, and sexual satisfaction. My work has been published in peer-reviewed scientific journals and textbooks in the area of human sexuality. I am a member of both the Society for Sex Therapy and Research and the Canadian Sex Research Forum and currently collaborate on research conducted in the Sexual Health Lab of Dr. Natalie Rosen at Dalhousie University.

See the sex therapy link in the resources section on this web site for recommended links to web sites about sex therapy or sexual concerns.

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Laura Mitchell

M.A., Psychologist (Candidate Register)

I am a Psychologist (Candidate Register) who works with adolescents and adults. I can assist individuals dealing with depression, anxiety, grief, perfectionism, low self-esteem, self-harm/injury, trauma, phobias, substance abuse, and relationship and family issues. I hold an honours degree (BSc) in Psychology from Saint Mary’s University and a Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology from McGill University. Prior to my graduate studies, I received specialized training in addictions counselling, crisis management and motivational interviewing.

I have worked in educational settings, residential treatment centers, and non-profit organizations to advocate for individuals and assist them in meeting their goals. My approach is empathic, collaborative, client-centered and feminist, viewing each person and their presenting concerns within a larger sociocultural context. First and foremost, I believe strongly in a client’s ability to create positive change through their own strengths and resources. I am continuously inspired by human resiliency and the capacity of people to overcome difficult challenges.

My clinical training has been integrative, combining modalities such as Cognitive-Behavioural, Emotion-Focused, Dialectical Behaviour, Systemic, Feminist and Humanistic therapies. I believe in the healing power of the therapeutic relationship and am dedicated in providing evidence-based treatment that is tailored to the unique needs of each person. To best help clients reach their goals, I am committed to updating my skills through regular professional development. Most recently I have completed training in EMDR, enabling me to work with PTSD cases.

Jessica Parker

M.A., Psychologist (Candidate Register)

I am a psychologist (Candidate Register) working with children and youth aged newborn to 19 years, and their families. I see clients working through a variety of concerns including anxiety, depression, trauma, emotion regulation/dysregulation, and grief. I also work collaboratively with parents of young children dealing with various difficulties.

In every therapeutic relationship, I work with my clients to find an approach that will best suit their particular needs. I aim to create a space where my clients feel comfortable, safe, and empowered. Much of my training has been in cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and I am comfortable guiding my clients through how their thoughts, feelings, and behaviours can influence their life. I also use narrative therapy, play therapy, mindfulness, relaxation, guided imagery, story telling, writing, and other strategies or modalities based on what works well for my clients. I love this work and I am passionate about providing the evidence-based treatment that suits my clients best. I love working with diverse groups of people and will do what I can to make you feel comfortable and supported.

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I completed my B.A. (Honours) from St. Francis Xavier University and my M.A. from the University of British Columbia. I am currently working on my PhD from the University of British Columbia and my research is focused on the relationships between families and schools, particularly when it comes to helping support vulnerable children. My education has been in School Psychology and I have a great deal of experience working within schools, and with children and youth that have learning difficulties and developmental disabilities. Throughout my PhD training, I have spent time expanding my experiences in a variety of therapeutic areas. I have worked with young children with Autism Spectrum Disorders and their families to create behaviour support plans to help them improve positive behaviours. I have also worked in community mental health with children, youth, and families.

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Jennifer Volsky Rushton

R. Psych., Psychologist

I am a clinical psychologist who works with adults experiencing a wide variety of concerns. In particular, I have special interests in working with people and their family members affected by Huntington’s disease, people experiencing relationship issues, grief and loss, depression, anxiety, career and life transitions, self-esteem, and post-concussion syndrome/Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI).

Having worked at a University Counselling Centre for 14 years, I have an in-depth understanding of the challenges faced by students, and particularly enjoy working with young adults.

I’ve been in the field for many years, and have extensive training and experience working with people who are grieving. Because there are so many things and relationships that we have to say goodbye to in our lives, I have had the privilege of working with many people from all walks of life who are feeling many different things. I find it very rewarding to help people move through pain and loss, to peace and new meaning.

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I tailor my approach to the person I am working with. I primarily use Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), but I also incorporate Cognitive-Behavioral, Interpersonal and Solution-Focused approaches into my work. I have years of experience delivering both individual and group therapy. It is important to me to build a space for my clients to feel safe and understood. I am approachable and easy to talk to, and I work at putting my clients at ease. I enjoy using humour in therapy; we can have fun even as we do important work together!

My goal for my clients is that they find value and meaning in their lives, and I endeavour to give them tools to feel more empowered and fulfilled.

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Kay Jenson

B.Sc., Clinical Psychology Master's Student

I am a second year Clinical Psychology Master’s student at Acadia University. I am continuing my training at Lesley Hartman and Associates for a year. Previously, I have facilitated life-skills and processing groups with individuals struggling with trauma, sexuality, personality disorders, mood, anxiety, psychotic, and addictive behaviours. I have specifically worked in non-profit, crisis intervention, and psychiatric hospital settings. My research interests are related to sexual trauma, how couples navigate through sexual challenges, LGBTQ relationship functioning, and evidence-based treatments of major sexual dysfunctions.

While at Lesley Hartman and Associates, I will co-facilitate Dialectical Behaviour skills and trauma processing groups, and will begin seeing clients individually. I am continuing my training in Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Emotionally Focused Therapy for Couples and Families, and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy. With each client, I take a collaborative, empathic, feminist, sex-positive approach, making certain I am providing a safe space for queer individuals and accepting of different types of romantic relationships. I look forward to connecting with you and creating a trusting relationship, a process I find profoundly fulfilling and healing.

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I am also an intake worker at the practice! Thus, I get to speak to all of you who call our practice looking for an appointment. I conduct a brief initial assessment – this is done over the telephone and is used to assist you in finding the best therapist to suit your individual needs. I handle client information with the utmost confidentiality and aim to have you matched with a therapist promptly and efficiently.

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Tamara Speth

Clinical Psychology Ph.D. Student

I am a Clinical Psychology student currently completing the sixth year of my doctoral degree through Dalhousie University. My clinical experiences to date have included both assessment and intervention work with adolescents and adults from a variety of populations. Specifically, I have worked with individuals struggling with anxiety, depression, eating disorders, and borderline personality disorder (amongst others). My training thus far has been grounded in a Cognitive-Behavioural orientation, and I have a particular affinity for mindfulness-based approaches to treatment including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy.

I am currently working with the team at Lesley Hartman & Associates Inc. completing intakes with individuals who are seeking services or looking for more information about the practice. I enjoy helping individuals find the therapist who will be the right fit for them!

Cori Bradley

Office Manager

Our dedicated practice manager, Cori, has worked in and managed a busy veterinary practice for many years before deciding to enter the human field. She keeps us running smoothly, helping us provide our clients with more efficient service. If you have any complaints or concerns, please let Cori know! She’ll be sure to assist you.

I have missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I have lost almost 300 games.
On 26 occasions I have been entrusted to take the game winning shot…
and I missed. I have failed over and over and over again in my life.
And that’s precisely why I succeed.

- Michael Jordan

Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering.
There is a crack in everything,
That’s how the light gets in.

- Leonard Cohen

In the midst of winter,
I found there was within me an invincible summer.

- Albert Camus

NEWS

Recent posts

Archive

2018/02/06

Parent & Youth Group Services

We are happy to announce that Lesley Hartman & Associates Inc. will be running a selection of Parent and Youth Programs. For more information, please call 902-431-1721 or click here to schedule an intake call.

Adolescent DBT Skills Groups

We are excited to announce that we are running a series of Adolescent DBT Skills Training groups on the following topics–Distress Tolerance; Interpersonal Effectiveness; Emotion Regulation and Walking the Middle Path. Each of the modules will run Wednesday evenings, 6:30pm-8:30pm for . . .